SoCalTiger

Boras is working his PR game. Probably wants the Pistons to offer 350 so he can take it to Free agency as a starting bid. I don't trust him.

Yes I was surprised Elias made that trade after refusing to trade prospects when he had Burnes and the Orioles were having a hot season. Perhaps pressure from the new owner. Maybe Harris will also have a change of heart.

If the Tigers have in fact decided to play Keith at 3B and not sign or trade for somebody else I would like to see them commit to Keith and play him every day or at least 120 games. We have to remember the mistake of Issac Parades who we moved around and played only in spurts only to find out with extended playing time he was solid.

I don't follow the NFL so it's hard for me to comment.

Super post. bang on. If I may add dominant "Villain " teams are actually good for the league overall. Fans love the drama and passion they bring. It's why the Yankees and Dodgers sell out their away games as well. It's not going to change because even the cheap owners benefit from it and the League sure as heck is not killing their golden goose and getting fired for it. So yes "pay to play" and draft and develop are the only option. And "rigid" Harris is following through. We are lucky to have him despite the sloooooow process.

Skubal will be pitching for Detroit in 2026 for many reasons so let's enjoy that. It's not the same as Ohtani because the Angels were not in the playoffs the preceding two years like we were. Nor were they playing in a weak division. Plus it's always easier to push off hard decisions to a later date. Maybe the new collective bargaining agreement will bail them out in some manner. Harris is probably relieved to pass the hot tamale over to Chris.

If the new CBA limits years then someone will offer Skubal 60 million a year. The limit has to be total salaries and that's a cap and it's kryptonite for a deal. Maybe there can be added bonuses for losing free agents. Perhaps multiple draft picks. Maybe the team signing the highest contract loses a player off their 40 to the team that lost the player ? Or both. I think all is possible with the union provided salaries are not overly suppressed or capped.

Yes and none of those you listed is a shortstop except Rainer who is 3 years away. Heck none really play third. They are all second baseman except Cruz who is still a long shot poor man's McStinky.

So why not cut Lee and protect Petit ?

I included Baez to off set Lindor's salary as an "off the hip" thought. Maybe it can be massaged to work but as you say directionless unless Stearns is indeed totally reshaping the Mets. But it's more in my long standing hope to fix the left side of the infield which is the one complaint I have with Scot Harris who I still support though a bit more impatiently to be fair. We need a shortstop and Third baseman so very badly.

Baez and Skubal ?

Strange they left him unprotected but I would probably be talking about someone else we lost if they did.

Exactly. It doesn't make sense to not add around Skubal but I guess it's still early in the off season.

Is Petit good and if so should we have protected him ?

This sums up Al for me but you missed a big point in that he put a garbage team on the field to get those low picks year after year after year and yes others did like Houston so I "get it" but it's just "paint by numbers " decision making.